Students with two residences often ask where they are allowed to vote. The answer depends on the electoral register (Wählerverzeichnis) in which you are entered, and that in turn follows your main residence (Hauptwohnsitz). For the federal election, this distinction is decisive. State and local elections follow additional rules of the Länder, which must be checked separately.
Short answer: Whether you vote at your place of study or at your home town depends on your entry in the electoral register. The Federal Returning Officer names the municipality of your main residence as the responsible authority. The procedure is meant to prevent double entries through electronic data exchange between the Federal Returning Officer and the municipalities. Last updated: November 2026.
The most important points at a glance
- What counts is your entry in the electoral register, not the address on your student card.
- The municipality of your main residence is the central point of contact, for example for the polling card, a postal vote application and the clarification of entries.
- A double entry is not provided for under the procedure. The data exchange between the Federal Returning Officer and the municipalities is designed to prevent it.
- State and local elections follow Land rules, which differ and should be checked before each election.
- If you are unsure, clarify your entry with the municipality early, before any deadline runs out.
What does main residence mean for an election?
Your main residence is the home where you mainly live and where you are registered. For voting rights, however, what matters is where you are entered in the electoral register. The municipality keeps this register. It also checks whether you receive a polling card. If you want to apply for postal voting documents, you contact the municipality of your main residence, as the Federal Returning Officer states on its page on postal voting.
The term may seem formal at first, but it has practical consequences. The polling card, the postal voting documents and any information all run through the municipality that keeps your entry. Before an election it is therefore worth checking your registration status before documents are sent out.
Which residence applies in which case?
The overview below shows the most common constellations. It does not replace information from your municipality, but it helps you place your situation.
| Your situation | What applies | Responsible authority |
|---|---|---|
| Main residence at home, secondary residence at the place of study | The entry in the electoral register decides, and the application goes to the municipality of the main residence | Municipality of the main residence |
| Main residence at the place of study | Voting at the place of study is possible if you are entered in the register there | Municipality at the place of study |
| Unclear where you are registered | Check your registration status before you submit an application | Registration office and municipality |
The order matters: first the registration status, then the entry in the electoral register, then the polling card. Anyone who follows this chain avoids most surprises on election day.
When does the polling card arrive?
According to the Federal Returning Officer, municipalities usually send the polling card four to six weeks before the election, and at the latest by the 21st day before it. If you receive a card in time, you can assume that you are entered in the electoral register. If it does not arrive, little time remains, and you should start clarifying straight away. The card is sent to the address that the municipality holds on file, so the question of your main residence matters here too, well before the election is announced.
Can I vote at my place of study?
Yes, provided you are entered in the electoral register there. The polling card usually shows whether this is the case. If you do not receive one, clarify the entry with the responsible municipality. The question matters most if you intend to vote in person rather than by post.
Anyone who wants to vote at the place of study should also know that the constituency is determined by the residential address. You can find your constituency in the guide Finding your constituency (in German). The guide also explains the steps to prepare your vote.
How do state and local elections handle this?
State and local elections are governed by Land law. The rules on entry, deadlines and polling districts differ by Land and by election. This guide therefore does not state Land deadlines and refers you to the responsible authority. The Land returning officer and the municipality provide binding information. For an overview of local elections, see Local elections explained (in German).
For students, this can mean that they have to decide differently in different elections. There is no single rule for all elections. For each date, it is therefore worth checking the entry and the rules of the relevant Land separately.
Frequently asked questions
May I vote in two municipalities?
Under the procedure, a double entry is not provided for. The Federal Returning Officer describes an electronic exchange of information between the Federal Returning Officer and the municipalities that is meant to prevent multiple entries. If you want to vote in two places, you must therefore choose one entry and clarify that choice with the authorities.
Do I need a reason for postal voting from abroad?
No. According to the Federal Returning Officer, no reason is required for the postal voting application, including during a temporary stay abroad. You submit the application to the municipality of your main residence. More on the application and dispatch is in the guide Applying for a postal vote.
What if I have no fixed home?
According to the Federal Returning Officer, voters without a home are entered in a register only on their own application. The application must be made no later than the 21st day before the election. The municipality clarifies the details. According to the same source, a registered person without a home can also take part in postal voting.
What if I do not receive a polling card?
Then you should contact the municipality of your main residence. The Federal Returning Officer advises getting in touch by the 21st day before the election. For the steps in this case, see the guide on a missing polling card.
What to do next
- Check your registration status and confirm which address is registered as your main residence.
- Clarify with the responsible municipality whether you are entered in the electoral register, and whether you vote at the place of study or at home.
- If you plan to vote by post, apply early for each election and note the deadline set by the municipality.
Related reading
- Elections 2027: all dates at a glance
- Applying for a postal vote
- Polling card not received
- Finding your constituency (in German)
- Local elections explained (in German)
Sources: Federal Returning Officer, glossary: polling card (in German), Federal Returning Officer, glossary: persons without a residence (in German), Federal Returning Officer, voter information: postal voting, page on the 2025 federal election (in German)
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
